James Robson awarded Fellowship

In an award ceremony today at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, James Robson, doctor to the Scotland rugby team and Scottish Rugby's head of medical services will be awarded a Fellowship ad hominem, an honour given to those who are deemed by the College to have achieved distinction in their professional field and rendered special service to the 'art and science of surgery'.

It is rare, though not unprecedented for a non-surgeon to receive this accolade from the College. Mr David Tolley, President of the College, explains the reasons behind awarding Robson with this distinction;

"The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is delighted to be awarding Dr Robson this Fellowship. His dedication to the enhancement of medical care for rugby players at all levels of the game, and his tireless efforts in advancing the reputation and status of sport medicine have earned him the respect of all of our surgical Fellows and Members. The award of the Fellowship of the College is a fitting recognition of his services."

James Robson's involvement with Scottish rugby spans over 20 years. He has served as Scotland team doctor in well over 100 matches, and as doctor for the British and Irish Lions on the past five tours. "My greatest achievement as a rugby doctor is having been selected for five consecutive Lions tours. From a rugby point of view that's the best job in the world." Robson says.

Robson is also widely recognised as having delivered world-class medical care to former Scotland winger Thom Evans who was injured in an RBS 6 Nations match against Wales earlier this year, and though very humble about his role in the pitch-side treatment given to Evans, certainly regards the incident as one of the defining moments of his medical career: "It was certainly an extreme situation and it's one that I go over in my own mind. But the key thing is that the training we do to prepare ourselves for any eventuality - and I certainly advocate anyone involved in a duty of care in sport to participate in such training - proved its worth that day."

At today's ceremony, surgeons and dental surgeons from countries around the world will gather in the Playfair Hall at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to be presented their Fellowship and Membership diplomas in recognition of passing rigorous surgical and dental examinations. Robson will take his place amongst them; "I'm flabbergasted. Incredible. I'm not a surgeon, and to be recognised by a College like this is just fantastic."

Robson has also been invited to address the ceremony and intends to share these words of inspiration with the newly elected Fellows and Members of the College;

"Every day is a challenge, every patient is a challenge. Go out and do what you do well; and when things get bad, enjoy the challenge, no matter what it is."

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